About
Founded in 2014, Black Girls Surf is the brainchild of USCG veteran, Rhonda Harper, who noticed the lack of visibility within professional surfing. As a longtime surfer with aspirations of becoming a professional herself, Rhonda understood the need for coaches, mentors and trainers of color. She wanted to become the mentor she needed for surfers around the world.
Today, Black Girls Surf is an international non-profit organization that spans across countries and continent; providing valuable training experience, youth exchange opportunities, video production, educational development, casting opportunities, mentorship and coaching, surf therapy, and competition assistance.
Black Girls Surf supports girls/women whose career goals are competing in the professional surfing. Through, the fundraising efforts we have been able to send athletes to compete and train with professionals to ensure that they are prepared.
Under BGS, participants will have an opportunity to train with world-class surfing professionals.
Black Girls Surf is truly diversifying the water and the international surf narrative. What seemed impossible in the 1980’s is a reality today.
Rhonda “Rokki” Harper
CEO//Founder//Surf Coach
Fitness Trainer and Coach, aka “Coach Rho” is the champion in diversity and inclusion within the surf industry. Rho started Black Girls Surf out of the lack of representation within the surf industry. She has been training women since the age of 15 when she started working after school at Kaiser Hospital as the aerobic instructor for the nursing staff. Her passion for surfing, her background in civil rights and her resume of work within the surf industry is historic.